An inguinal hernia occurs when a loop of the intestine pushes through the muscular abdominal wall. This causes a bulge to appear on the outer abdomen. Hernias may or may not be painful, but doctors do usually recommend having them repaired surgically so that you don't have to worry about the intestinal tissue becoming trapped and strangulated. If your doctor has recommended that you undergo hernia repair surgery, you might have some of the following questions about the process and procedure.

How soon do you have to undergo hernia surgery?

If your hernia is not red, painful, or getting larger, then having it surgically repaired is not an emergency situation. It's something that you want to do soon, but you don't necessarily have to do it tomorrow or next week — unless your doctor tells you otherwise. You don't want to put this surgery off for months or years, but if you have to finish a big work project or take a trip before you schedule surgery, it's generally okay to do so.

How is hernia surgery performed?

These days, most hernia repair surgeries are done laparoscopically. In other words, only two or three small incisions are made in the abdomen, and the surgery is done using small tools inserted through those incisions. The repair usually involves pushing the intestinal tissue back into place and then placing a mesh "patch" over the area where the musculature has an opening. This is much less invasive than open surgery, which is performed through a big incision. 

How long do you have to stay in the hospital?

Most hernia repair surgeries are actually outpatient procedures. You will probably have your surgery in the morning, stay in the hospital or surgical center for a few hours to be observed, and then go home that afternoon or evening. You will need someone to drive you home and to stay with you for a few days. Many patients are surprised by how easily they recover from hernia repair, but you will need to lay low, spend some time resting, stick to a softer diet, and take your prescribed pain relievers and antibiotics on schedule.

Hernia repair surgery has come a long way over the past few years, and it's actually a pretty approachable procedure that people recover from well. Talk to your doctor if you have any other questions. They can tell you how urgent it is for you to schedule this surgery since that varies a lot between patients.